UN HUMAN RIGHTS HIGH COMMISSIONER - DURBAN'S JUDGE NAVI PILLAY - CONDEMNS SRI LANKA FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPRESS THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS OF PEOPLE (TAMILS)

South Africa's Navi Pillay, who is the United Nationsl High Commissioner on Human Rights, has condemned the Sri Lankan Government for continuing to deny people their full rights despite the end of the war with the Tamil Tigers and the Tamil people more than four years ago. Judge Pillay, who hails from Durban, was speaking at the end of her week-long visit to the Indian Ocean island country on Friday. During her visit, Judge Pillay met government officials, politicians, human rights activists and people affected by the war. She is to report her findings to the UN Human Rights Council next month. Her visit was clouded in controversy after some of the majority Singalese leaders criticised Judge Pillay of being biased because of her Tamil origins. Judge Pillay supported her interim assessment by saying that the Sri Lankan Government had harrassed and intimidated people she had spoken to victims and others affected by the government's human rights violations. Her Commission team visited Colombo and the North of the Island, where the original inhabitants - the Tamils - of the Island live, to investigate the human rights violations committed by the Sri Lankan Government and Tamil Tigers during the three decade civil war.

The Sri Lankan Government was especially accused of slaughtering more than 60 000 Tamils towards the end of the civil war four years ago. According to one of the international news agencies, Associated Press, Judge Pillay said it was disturbing to hear reports of military or police visiting and questioning villagers with whom she had spoken in the former war zone and alleged intimidation of rights activists she met with. "This type of surveillance and harassment appears to be getting worse in Sri Lanka, which is a country where critical voices are quite often attacked or even permanently silenced. "Utterly unacceptable at any time it is particularly extraordinary or such treatment to be meted out during a visit by the UN high commissioner for human rights," Judge Pillay is quoted as saying. "I wish to stress that that the United Nations takes the issue of reprisals against people because they have talked to UN officials as an extremely serious matter ...". AP reported that the United Nations rights chief has chastised the Sri Lankan Government, saying it is showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction despite the end of a civil war four years ago.

AP reported that Pillay said she was "deeply concerned that Sri Lanka, despite the opportunity provided by the end of the war to construct a new vibrant all-embracing state, is showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction."

"The war may have ended, but in the meantime democracy has been undermined and the rule of law eroded by the government's move three years ago to abolish provisions for independent police, judiciary and human rights commissions, and give the president the power to appoint officials to the commissions. "The controversial impeachment of the chief justice earlier this year and apparent politicization of senior judicial appointments have shaken confidence in the independence of the judiciary." (Most of the information from Associated Press)

Pitchai Paathiram (Full Song) - Naan Kadavul

Senneer Thana - Paradesi Song HD

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Enke ungal -Mirthula Siva - Maaveerar naal 2012 - Swiss

Nenjai nimirthi Ramya Siva Maaveerar naal 2012 Swiss

Karkalmalai Ramya Siva Maaveerar naal 2012 Swiss

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Kadavul thantha azhagiya vazhvu Ramya Sivananthaajah

Tholvi Nilai Yena Ninaithaal Ramya S

SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO GIVEN ASSURANCE THAT IT'S DURBAN FREQUENCY WILL BE IRONED OUT SOON

By Subry Govender

Southside FM Radio, which was given a promise by the authorities early this year that it will able to launch by December 2013, has now been given an assurance by Sentech that its frequency in the Durban area will be ironed out soon. Sentech Durban Manager, Mr Patrick Sikhosana, told a delegation of Southside FM Radio on Friday, August 16 2013 that "all we are waiting for is a letter from the SABC". "Once the SABC gives us the letter within two weeks, we will continue with our tests and this will take about a month," he told the delegation. "Thereafter we will send a report to ICASA, which will then issue the necessary documents for Southside to get off the ground." Sentech's statement follows Southside's meeting with a senior ICASA official, Mr Monde Mbanga, at the ICASA offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, early in August. Meanwhile, Southside has decided to accept an offer to broadcast from an office at the ABH in Chatsworth. The decision was taken at a meeting on Friday, August 16 2013, after it was reported at the meeting that the premises at the Mount Edgecombe Mariammen Cultural Centre will only be available later this year. The meeting also resolved that once the agreement for the premises has been entered into, arrangements will be made for the construction of the studio, the appointment and training of presenters, the recruitment of advertising representatives and the appointment of othe staff members. The Southside meeting also elected a Board of Governors that will be overall in charge of the radio station. The Board will be the final decision-making organ.

The Board is made up of: 1. Mrs Sally Padaychie, a former struggle activist.

2. Ms Keresha Govender, a cultural activist. 3. Mrs Thirupuriesundrie Govender, a Tamil scholar. 4. Mr Logan Naidoo 5. Mr Balan Gounder

6. Mr Richard Naidoo, a cultural activist.

7. Mr Swaminathan Gounden, former struggle activist. 8. Mr Denis Naidoo, cultural and former activist. 9. Mr Subry Govender, initiator and struggle journalist. The Southside meeting also acknowledged the support given to the radio station by senior government leaders recently.

SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO GIVEN ASSURANCE THAT IT'S DURBAN FREQUENCY WILL BE IRONED OUT SOON

BY SUBRY GOVENDER

Southside FM Radio, which was given a promise by the authorities early this year that it will able to launch by December 2013, has now been given an assurance by Sentech that its frequency in the Durban area will be ironed out soon. Sentech Durban Manager, Mr Patrick Sikhosana, told a delegation of Southside FM Radio on Friday, August 16 2013 that "all we are waiting for is a letter from the SABC". "Once the SABC gives us the letter within two weeks, we will continue with our tests and this will take about a month," he told the delegation. "Thereafter we will send a report to ICASA, which will then issue the necessary documents for Southside to get off the ground." Sentech's statement follows Southside's meeting with a senior ICASA official, Mr Monde Mbanga, at the ICASA offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, early in August. Meanwhile, Southside has decided to accept an offer to broadcast from an office at the ABH in Chatsworth. The decision was taken at a meeting on Friday, August 16 2013, after it was reported at the meeting that the premises at the Mount Edgecombe Mariammen Cultural Centre will only be available later this year. The meeting also resolved that once the agreement for the premises has been entered into, arrangements will be made for the construction of the studio, the appointment and training of presenters, the recruitment of advertising representatives and the appointment of othe staff members. The Southside meeting also elected a Board of Governors that will be overall in charge of the radio station. The Board will be the final decision-making organ. The Board is made up of: 1. Mrs Sally Padaychie, a former struggle activist. 2. Ms Keresha Govender, a cultural activist. 3. Mrs Thirupuriesundrie Govender, a Tamil scholar. 4. Mr Logan Naidoo 5. Mr Balan Gounder 6. Mr Richard Naidoo, a cultural activist. 7. Mr Swaminathan Gounden, former struggle activist. 8. Mr Denis Naidoo, cultural and former activist. 9. Mr Subry Govender, initiator and struggle journalist. The Southside meeting also acknowledged the support given to the radio station by senior government leaders recently.

Local and foreign visitors continue to visit Hospital in Pretoria where Nelson Mandela is receiving treatment

NELSON MANDELA IN HOSPITAL FOR TWO MONTHS. Although the South African Government has dramatically reduced its information on the current condition of former President and freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, local and foreign people still visit the hospital in Pretoria where he is being treated. I visited the hospital on Monday, August 5 2013 to check on the latest situation at the hospital and the number of people paying their respects and praying for Mandela's speedy recovery. The following report was broadcast by Radio Deutsche Welle on Wednesday, August 7 2013.

Local and foreign visitors still visit hospital in Pretoria despite lack of information on Nelson Mandela's condition

By Subry Govender
(On assignment for Radio Deutsche Welle)

                      A message of support for Nelson Mandela at the Tribute Wall

 

South Africa's freedom icon and first democratic President, Nelson Mandela, has now been in hospital for almost two months after being admitted on the 8th of June. He's receiving treatment for a lung infection. His condition has been officially described as "critical but stable". This has been the information on his condition ever since he was first admitted to the Pretoria Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital.

I visited the hospital surroundings on Tuesday, August 6 to check out the atmosphere and see whether there's still a rush of people. I found large portraits of Mandela's pictures adorning tree tops, light and telephone poles and the hospital boundary wall. There's also a huge Tribute Wall where thousands of messages of support and well wishes are pasted.


                                     

             

 

                                Message of support for Nelson Mandela

I found that despite the South African Government substantially decreasing its regular and official information on Nelson Mandela's condition, some local and foreign visitors still continue to visit the Pretoria Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital vicinity to wish the former President well and pray for him.

They have become fewer in numbers from the first time since the 8th of June when as many as 200 people a day used to flock to a side street - opposite the hospital - to lay flowers, pen messages and pray for Mandela's recovery.

A young student at the nearby University of South Africa, Ms Portia Mthembu, was one of the locals visiting the Tribute Wall.

"I came here to offermy prayers for Madiba because he has done a lot for us," she told me.

"But I am very unhappy that he's still in hospital. He should be at home with his family, enjoying the rest of his life. Being in hospital is just as worse as the 27 years he was imprisoned for fighting for our freedom."

Another local, Mr Paul Nkuna, had come all the way from the Limpopo Province to offer his support for the freedom icon. Mr Nkuna, a logistics director at the University of Limpopo, said he would like to see Mandela fully recovering because "we need him for another five to 10 years".

"My visit is just to see the pictures which are on the wall here and hopefully to hear that Tata is well again and discharged. That's my wish," he said.

Some of the foreign visitors were from Mexico, Columbia and the United Kingdom.



                                  
Mr David Rees Jones of England visited the hospital Tribute Wall with his wife, daughter, son and niece. He was one of the sprinkling of people visiting the hospital surroundings.

He told me that Mandela was a world icon and he and his family wanted to ensure that they visited the hospital surrounding to pay their respects to him.

"Well we just wanted to come and pay our respects to Nelson Mandela," he said, "you know he's an incredible statesman and he did so much for SA and he's an inspiration for people all around the world".

"So we wanted to come and see what's happening here and pay our respects to Madiba. He's an old man but everyone still wishes him the best."

Another foreign visitor was Sister Clara Torris, a Catholic Missionary, from Mexico.

"Nelson Mandela is a hero in our country as well and we wanted to come here to pray for him," she said.

She added:

"His life is in God's hands and when he goes we will be here to say thank you Madiba we are proud of you and will try to follow your example."

Major international and local media houses - ABC, CBS, CNN, BBC, Associated Press TV - are still maintaining their presence but it seems they have become restless.

A cameraman for a local television station, Clement Mantase, has been keeping watch at the entrance to the hospital from across the street for about four weeks. He says there's not been much activity over the past two weeks.

"It's been quiet for the past two weeks or so. On an average we'll see one family member or two coming to visit the hospital and we never get information from inside. All the journalists keep asking one another for information. Nobody knows anything."

A foreign media person, Andrew Jaguna is a camerman for the Associated Press Television. He has been stationed at the hospital vicinity since June with only a few days break to return to his home base in Nairobi, capital of Kenya.

"I haven't filed a single picture for the last two weeks," he said.

"The reason being that there's not much information coming from the authorities. Family visits have become rare. We only see the wife, Graca Machel, is always here and the eldest daughter comes once in a while, compared to the first days when the whole family - from the youngest to the eldest - very frequent. Now its very quiet."

A young BBC television reporter, Sullefene Lolwane, says despite the drastic drop in the number of people visiting the Tribute Wall area, they would still maintain their presence until something happens. By this she meant when Mandela passes on or is discharged from hospital.

"We'll be here until something happens, ya we'll maintain it. Each day someone different will come and just monitor everything."



                                          

                           Students from the Tshwane University of Technology
                           showing their support for Nelson Mandela
A street photographer, Sabelo Makena, who set up business near the Tribute Wall three weeks ago, is also now finding that the traffic of people to the area has drastically slowed down. He has been very busy photographing people visiting the Tribute Wall but has found that for the past week there has only been a trickle of people.

"For the first two weeks," he said, "I have done a lot of money but since last week from Thursday till now there's no business here".

"Now is quiet. Always business is like this. There's a time where things go well and then there's a drop. But I can't worry because I know this business is like this."

 

                                        A message of support for Nelson Mandela

                                      
Security is very tight and no unofficial visitors or media people are allowed into the hospital grounds. However, I managed to speak to a patient, Ms Agneta Nolita, who visited the hospital for treatment. She told me that while she was receiving treatment she inquired about Mandela and whether it would be possible for her to visit the icon.

"I asked them about where he is and if there's a possibility about seeing him," she said.

"They say it is really a protected area and its secluded. You have lots of security and no one could really go there. We have all the policemen and all the security people checking out on that but where he is it is really not accessible."

She would have loved to see the freedom icon because of what he has achieved for SA, Africa and the world.

"He's this icon in Africa. He 's an inspiration to both the young and older people. It 's really important to see him and wish him well, quick recovery. It's been long you know. All this time it's just been quiet."

The South African Government had not released any further information from the one that President Jacob Zuma issued last Friday, August 2 when he said Mandela was still critical but showing signs of improvement. ends - Subry Govender.

Nelson Mandela once again in hospital

South Africans of all colours pray for Nelson Mandela after he was admitted to a Pretoria hospital for the second time in 2013. Report composed on the 28th of March 2013

Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday Pkge July 17 2013

Nelson Mandela 95th birthday feature. School children and non-government organisations celebrate Mandela's birthday and wish him well.

Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday celebrations

Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday celebrations on July 18 2012. Government and the masses wish Mandela well.

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